whip something up

I am growing up...
hard to believe that after 42 years
(i think that is how old I am?)
I am still willing to try new things
that i am not soooo set in my ways
and that i am willing to step outside of the box.

When it comes to food

i think i am pretty open to trying new things-
at least that is what i think until i watch some of these food shows and then i think, well, maybe I'm not.They eat some shall we say exotic (ie: Nasty) stuff on some of these shows. Then there are the overeating shows that just gross me out. Whatever the case, I might not be willing to eat the "exotic" stuff--not that i have many opportunities but I am willing to eat things that were previously on my "not quite my favorite list". Not that this list was very long.

So what was on this list

that previously i would not eat, that now i do?

Cabbage--love it on tacos and a good coleslaw. This does not mean that i love all coleslaw--just some. I love cooked cabbage and love it sauteed in butter with onions. Honestly can you go wrong with anything cooked in butter?

I think not.

Brussel Sprouts--or when i was little i would refer to them as mini cabbages. My oldest brother would request them for his birthday dinner every year--I think he didn't like them so much as he just wanted to torment us by having to eat them. Somewhere along the line my family has adopted their like for this little vegetable and often it can be found on our table for Sunday dinner. Still not my favorite food and i probably won't request it, but i don't mind it.

With me growing up and eating brussel sprouts this has caused my husband to do the same...only with asparagus. Previously, just the mention of this pencil shaped vegetable would send him into a gag reflux.(i am serious when i speak about the gagging--even the thought or smell and he would be gagging--he swore he would NEVER eat it EVER!!!) I loved the vegetable so subsequently it made its way into our fridge and on the table until one day he actually ate it(after much persuasion and a few bribes) and he liked it--now he buys it, and prepares it.

The last veggie wasn't so much a dislike as it was more of an indifferent feeling toward it. Cauliflower. I found i liked it made this way but honestly it was loaded with a ton of calories so it has failed to make its way back to our table. Tonight though, my husband made a lighter version that was equally tasty with what he topped it with. He panned fried it briefly with some fresh garlic and then steamed it. Instead of potatoes as the base he whipped the cauliflower with a little butter and milk in the blender. It was great--so much lighter and not starchy like potatoes.

So this is what dinner was.
Doesn't it look pretty.

It starts with a scoop of whipped cauliflower. It was a nice creamy contrast to the sweet chunky fresh tomato sauce--and then you've got the stalks of asparagus to add a crunchy bite with the tender pan fried chicken.

So delish

So glad my husband is willing to whip up dinner for me.

I am glad that he has us try new and different things

I am glad that he keeps me

fat and happy.

well, maybe not the fat part,

but the HAPPY.

By the way--the item still on my list
LIVER--
doesn't matter how old i get,
or grown up and open minded i feel....
I am just not going there any time soon

Tragedy makes us reflect

Why is it that it takes something TERRIBLE to make me step back and realize how truly blessed I am? Has it really been 7 years since i woke just after Christmas to see the devastation that took place in Indonesia? Bad things are not supposed to happen around Christmas. While we were celebrating and spending time with family for the holidays, others across the world were looking for their loved ones amongst the ruble and debris of an earthquake and subsequent Tsunami. I remember being paralyzed for days after, sitting in awe as i watched the images play out on TV. How could something so horrible have happened? Then slowly we resumed our "normal" lives and went about our business as usual. My life went on and only on occasion did i give this tragedy a second thought. It was only today when i started thinking about it again that i can hardly believe that it was that long ago.

Once again while i was sleeping safe and sound in my home, across the world those in Japan were living out their worst nightmares. It is not something that they will just be able to wake up from either. It will be on going for months/years. It was something that no one had any control over...I think that is when you feel so small in this world, to realize we have very little control of what happens in our lives. I have been thinking about those families that sent missionaries over to Japan. What faith to send your child half way around the world. All you can do is pray that they will be safe...and they have been. What a blessing. I only hope that while they are there that they will be able to console the weak and broken.That they can give the aid to those who need it since we can't. It will be many many years of healing for the Japanese. Long after it is no longer in the news, long after it has been placed in the history books as the horrific event that it is, they will still be dealing with it. I need to remember to be thankful for my blessings, for my safety. And i need to remember after it is no longer the headline news story that those in Japan,they will still need my prayers.

Shamrocks

Nothing screams St.Patricks Day more than the Shamrock.

(hello cute beaded shamrock in the $1 frame from Michaels)
this one was made from everything i had on hand--
i think it needs a stem though
gotta love leftovers for craft projects and a $1 frame from DI

I remember as a kid sitting in my yard and picking through a pile shamrocks looking for the elusive four leaf clover...and ya know what? I actually have not only found one, but two, four leaf clovers in my life time. Now does that mean I am twice as LUCKY? Probably not--I think it just means i am more persistent when i am on a quest to find something. If i can't find what i want, i find something else to make it work. That was what i had to do when making my wreath. I knew i wanted a four leaf clover--i thought it represented LUCK better--so off i went in search of some hearts that i could put together to make my wreath. Guess what? Styrofoam hearts were next to impossible to find before or after Valentines day, so i had to get creative.
I started out with a Styrofoam circle

and traced on some hearts till i got a shape that i liked.
I then took a handy dandy serrated knife to cut it out
(please don't tell the hubby that i used his Henkle to do this)
Then I used the part of the Styrofoam that i had cut off
to sand the edges and smooth them.
(It worked really well, but man did it make a mess)
Styrofoam dust is almost as bad as glitter--it sticks to everything and goes everywhere. If i ever do it again i think it will become an outside project. Then my OCD kicked in and i decided I needed to paint it (knowing that I probably wouldn't even see it when it was covered) but doesn't it look great?
Very Shamrock-ie I say...
Then much like i had done on my valentine wreath I cut out green felt to cover my Styrofoam with. I used a flower die that had a heart/shamrock like look when folded

(Originally i tri-folded the felt
but it made it too bulky so i went with a quarter fold instead)
I then started filling it in.
(This picture was when i was still tri-folding it--like i said it turned out too bulky this way)

not rocket science here. Just stick it with a pin and fill it in.

(notice the bus seat? yes, i was crafting on the job)

I actually ended up taking it apart and re-doing it because it too full the first time. That and the fact that it was sitting out and my husband was a bit aggressive with petting/fluffing my shamrock that he actually broke off one of the arms--thank goodness for glue.

I think it turned out pretty cute. I probably should have done a three leaf clover because aesthetically i think it would have looked better--but NOOOO--had to be a four leaf clover because it represented LUCK and i thought about how common a three leaf clovers are, almost weed like in some places, and then i read this little fact about good ol' St. Patty

Legend has it that the shamrock was used to represent the Holy Trinity by St. Patrick. By doing this he could show people how the church was connected. St. Patrick used this to symbolize how the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
can be separate, but also part of the same entity.

Knowing this now,
I LOVE three leaf clovers.
It helps me stop and remember where my LUCK comes from
and to be thankful for my blessings

and of course the aesthetics and all....

50 ODD things about ME?!

Found this buried in my drafts from a few years ago--
figured i might as well post it--feel free to cut and past and fill it out on your blog--i think some of the questions were fun

1. Do you like blue cheese?
Blue, white, yellow--i don't discriminate--I am an equal opportunity cheese consumer

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
The only smoking i have ever had come out of my body, is from my ears, when i am mad.

3. Do you own a gun?
Does Nerf count? I kinda have some issues with guns in the home....

4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Extra lime

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Only OB/GYN--the whole bodily function thing makes me nervous....

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
Costco hot dogs and Ted's, but they need Deli mustard,onions and sauerkraut anything else is just wrong

7. Favorite Christmas song?
Mary's Lullaby, Away in a manger, What child is this...

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Nothing....Water I guess or a COKE if i have a headache...I know mom, it is terrible for me but it does help

9. Can you do push ups?
I am more proficient at the push downs--haven't tried the push ups in years--but i did win the Presidential Fitness award in Elementary school

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
I don't wear much but I love my banglie bracelets

11. Favorite hobby?
That i actually do....HMMM I guess scrap booking, although i do love to finish a fun upholstery project

12. Do you have A.D.D.?
Is that like O.C.D.? I prefer the title of multi tasker

13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself?
I will let you know tomorrow--PROCRASTINATION!

14.If you had to give up one of your senses, what would it be?
I would give up being able to smell. Although taste is directly related to smell and i really like food--so maybe hear--I guess i am so thankful for all of my senses and glad this is just a rhetorical question

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
I am sitting in the jury room at superior court--
1.I hate waiting
2.Why do they think burping on a movie is funny
3. Kinda cold and hungry
I guess that is really four but i think cold and hungry go together

16.Name 4 drinks you regularly drink?
Water, Pepsi(otherwise known as the nectar of the gods) Diet Coke with Lime--Diet cherry limeade from Sonic

17. Current worry right now?
How my youngest is going to like and adjust to his new teacher

18. Current hate right now?
dirty house/laundry/mopping floors but i hate these things all the time

19.Favorite season?
--I love fall--I love the smell of the leaves and the wonderful colors that they trees turn. I miss it alot since we don't actually have fall in AZ

20. How did you bring in the New Years?
With friends and their kids--pigging out,playing games and doing a puzzles and the guys play games

21. Like to go?
Is this an opened ended question--like make up your own ending or is like take the time to "GO"--often i find i am to busy to stop and take the time to "GO"--I wish i could have others "go" for me

22.Nail polish?
Only on my toes--love the dark blue/reds in the winter, pinks in the spring and an orange red in the fall

23. Do you own your own slippers?
Yes.I used to love those with the funny animals and such--now i just like warm and comfy ones that i can drive in if needed.

24. What color shirt are you wearing?
A green one to match my eyes--after all the years of my mom trying to convince me to wear green it finally worked

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
NO--I am a cotton girl all the way--I just gave away my satin sheets and they were practically brand new--don't like the slip sliding feeling or the snaggy feeling when your heels are rough

26. Can you whistle?
Yes,only in...but not very effectively.

27. Favorite color?
I love it all in various shades--color makes me happy

28. Would you be a pirate?
ARGHHHH yes matey---but i think my integrity would be and issue to the whole robbing and pillaging thing---

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Not a big shower singer--but get me in the car and watch out!

30. If you could pick your name what would it have been?
hmmmm--this is a deep question--I think my name fits me--leigh ann, but not just leigh

31.Bed sheets as a kid
--I had holly hobby and then some pretty yellow with tiny little multicolored buds--still like those sheets (yes i still have one)

32. What's in your pocket right now?
a coupon to Lowes--coins and beads. What can I say? I live a random life

33. Last thing that made you laugh?
watching my husband play the WII

34. Worst injury you've ever had?
When i rubbed off all the skin on my shins knee boarding right before graduation

35. Do you love where you live?
Although it is hot in the summer you don't have to shovel sunshine and if you want the snow you only have to drive a few hours to find it. I do miss the trees from back east but have learned to appreciate the beauty that is found in the desert

36. How many TV's do you have in your house?
I think six or so

37. Who is your loudest friend?
HMMMMM--I think Sheli but actually she is my sis-in-law. I think i am probably louder than her at times though

38. How many pets do you have?
one really spoiled dog

39. Does someone have a crush on you?
It is my anniversary--so i hope my husband

40. What is your favorite book?
I go between the mindless dribble and murder mystery. I also love a good coffee table book and love History books

41. What is your favorite candy?
Heath Bar or Peanut M&M's--makes me feel like i am making a healthy choice since nuts are good for you

42. Favorite Sports Team?
the ones my children are on--although i do have teams i prefer to drive and watch over others--just a perk of my job

43. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Sleeping--what can i say? I am getting old

44. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
"Crap! I have to get up and go to work...again"

45. Worst habit?
Cursing and procrastination, but i try not to make that a habit

46. Do you play an instrument?
Does the radio count? I can play the first two lines of "My country tis of thee" on the piano--maybe one day i will figure it out

47. How long does it take you to get to work?
About 7 minutes or less--depends if i cut through the parking lot when i don't get a left turn arrow in the morning

48. Plans for the weekend?
work (story of my life) Party with the friends for New Years--always tons to eat and lots of laughs and a good time--bummer it only happens once a year

49. If you could eat anything in the world right this second what would it be?
Panna Cotta! Seriously love that stuff. Just hook up an IV with that in it and i will die a happy person

50. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Since there are very few people that i dislike the odds are YES--only wish i could remember who actually sent it to me

When good art goes WRONG

I have been wanting to post these picture for awhile.
I have been hanging onto them for the perfect day.
I figured the time had come.

After all it is February
--the month of LUV.
LUV...LUV...LUV
What screams love more than a cute cherub.

I love how they strategically placed his drape as to be a modest cherub. After all you don't want a porno cherub hanging in the house. Then this also bears the question: "Are they male? Female? Or are cherubs a sexual?" Inquiring minds want to know---or, at least i do now that i am writing this.

Now, I don't really think that this is a really cute cherub. I recently saw this on a lovely (tongue in cheek) piece of art work. I had to get real close to the picture to actually see what it was. I was intrigued. Oh the lovely artwork it was...The cherub was dimensional, as to stand out.

Then you had these lovely working,
yes, I said WORKING lights in the picture

I mean it is not everyday that your wall art also double as a night light.
Or maybe,
it was MOOD lighting.
After all, a cherub with mood lighting?
Who wouldn't be in the mood with this lovely piece of ART
(Have you noticed that i continue to say lovely?
I think i need to pull out the thesaurus,
and yes, i am using that word lovely loosely)
hanging above their couch.
Well there it is folks. That little blob in the middle--on the top of the fountain is the dimensional cherub. Why? Oh WhY, did i not find the money in my purse to pick up this lovely (there is the word again) maybe i should say interesting art piece....well, we will just leave it at that.

Scary part is...someone did buy it.
Personally, I am hoping this was a one of a kind.

NEVER to be duplicated again
just too much blue for me.....

My charmer

My fourth child has always been a charmer.

Maybe it is the dimples on his cheek and his BEE-UTE-IFUL blue/green eyes
This has always been one of my most favorite pictures of this punk.
Perhaps it is his fun personality,

or his guns he likes to show off

(how many boys do you know that can pull off pink sequence?)
Or his ability to rock the "gangsta' look"

He loves little kids--including his own brother

Today found me with a horrible headache after a long day at work. I came in and crashed on the couch. My son had just started a movie on Netflix--TRON--not exactly what i had in mind to decompress to. I looked around the room and it looked like a bomb had gone off. Seeing my son just vegging there I started a conversation with him, and this is how it went

Me: have you done anything around the house today?
(knowing full well that NOTHING had been done)

Son: "mommy, have i told you how much i love you"
(batting his long eyelashes and flashing me a grin)

me:( Ignoring his attempt to sway me)
"Like i asked before. Have you done anything today?"

Son: "But you are the best mommy,

I L--OOOO--VVV--EEE YOUUUUU."
(said in the most condescending,

sickening sweet voice

a 14 year old boy could muster up)

Me: "It would be nice if you would do something to show me that you love me"
(me, thinking the "showing" would involve a chore of some kind)

Son: (Reaches over and gives me a KISS???)
"That is showing you, or would you prefer a hug instead?"

(this coming from my child who runs the other direction when i try to elicit a hug)

I caved

--melted as it were.

--gave in, or better yet gave up.

If he is gonna to go to that extreme to get out of doing a job who am i to argue?

And quite honestly i just didn't have it in me anyway.

Who knew that under those beautiful eyes,
dimples, and the hat held a devious mastermind.

Keeping my kids on their toes

Since today is February 14Th, Valentines Day, perhaps I should start out this blog entry by wishing you and those you love a happy day.
But i won't.
I am not a fan, big or otherwise of this Hallmark Holiday.
I am the bah humbug, scrooge of Valentines day.
It is not that I was ever spurned on the Holiday, or that those I love didn't show me proper appreciation on that particular day. It is actually the opposite. My attitude has always been that if you need a specific day/holiday to remind you to show your love, is it really real? I have seen husbands and wives upset over this day because they felt slighted by their love. I have single friends that feel this is a day to remind them that they are single. So I have boycotted this overpriced, over commercialized, heart and flower day for many years.

Early on in my relationship with the hubsters we agreed NOT to do anything on this particular date--instead opting for the random acts of love/thoughtfulness throughout the year. He was NOT to buy me overpriced flowers on Valentines--instead choosing to buy them randomly at various times during the year, "just because". This has worked for us. We save a ton of money and don't feel like we have been scalped by those taking financial advantage of this particular day. We also take each other out for a bite to eat "just because"--instead of fighting for reservations at a particular restaurant on a "holiday". We leave all that stuff up to the real romantics--which i am decidedly NOT one. I am just to pragmatic...too low maintenance to allow a holiday to get my knickers in a wad over how I am shown that I am loved on that one particular day. In my mind it is the 364 days prior that really count.

Now that i have told you how i really feel about this day, let me get to the real reason behind this blog post.

MY CHILDREN.

Yes, this is about my children and their knowledge of how I view this particular day. In some ways I fear have doomed them! What if they find and marry someone who has a different belief about the day? Someone who views this day as important? I can see some of them being in the proverbial doghouse for my belief...the belief they have been raised with. My children know about my feelings about this particular day. In their mind i have become
"PREDICTABLE".
Being their mom and having lived with me ALL their lives they think they know what makes me tick. You can imagine their surprise when i actually broke down and decorated for this loathed holiday.

It wasn't just one child that i had wondering what i was doing,
It was all of them.
Or at least the four that can actually verbalize their shock and awe.
As i was making this cute wreath on night my oldest son asked what I was making. (I had made the LOVE blocks earlier with my girlfriend and she had a cute wreath like this hanging up as well, and of course i needed one to complete my look)
I told him. He then asked if i felt OK. "Why yes" I responded. "Why do you ask?" "Well Mom. I know you HATE Valentines day and am wondering WHY you are making a wreath for it?" I just sort of laughed it off.

Then my oldest daughter made the comment to my husband that she thought i was having a mid life crisis? He asked her why? She responded "Because Mom is decorating for Valentines Day" We had a pretty good laugh about that. When i asked her about it she just shook her head. She just doesn't get it. Just when they thought they knew me and what made me tick.

I totally have thrown my children for a loop

--I have them off guard wondering?

What they don't get is that i needed a creative outlet
and despite my dislike for the holiday, i do love to decorate.

I don't dislike the idea of LOVE

--I love LOVE.
(especially when it turns out as cute as this covered in old buttons)

LOVE is what makes the world go round.
LOVE is important.

We all need to know we are loved.
--maybe that is why I DON'T NEED Valentines Day.
I know I am loved.
I am secure in that knowledge.With that being said, it doesn't hurt to be reminded to show your love. I guess maybe Valentines day is a good thing for some...those that need the reminder. For me I will be content to just put up the cute decorations and hope that it rubs off on those around me.

I do love them

and more than anything
i LOVE keeping them on their toes.
P.S. It was a good thing that i took pictures of my shelf when i did, because I woke up the next day to find it all over the couch--somehow one of my brackets on my shelf came loose--don't ya just LOVE when things break :)

Note to GOD

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thought i would drop you a note in case you have been too busy to hear me lately. I have always found a bit of irony when teams sit down and pray before a game that they will win. What if the other team is praying for the same thing as well? Does it come down to who God loves best?--cuz i have always been taught that you love all of your children. Do you have favorites?--or do you base your answer to the prayer on who is being the most obedient to your commandments at the time? I have found myself praying the prayer of success the last few days...Not so much a prayer against the opponent...but a prayer for strength, and the desire to win. That my son can do his best. It is hard being the mom. Watching your child work so hard at their goals... You want your kids to succeed and to do their best. Heavenly Father, I am sure you are torn with the same emotions. Does it come down to your will or the preparation prior to the event? I find that those simple prayers I have uttered in my sons behalf are more for me--calming my nerves that I will be OK with the outcome--but Heavenly Father, if it is YOUR will, can you please let him WIN? We need a win in our lives these days.
I would really appreciate any help you can give us/me in this matter.
Thanks for listening.
Love,
Your most grateful daughter

P.S. Not to be greedy and want all of your help and blessings but if you could please see a way for my hubby to find a job i would REALLY LOVE that

Re-Entry

re·entry or re-entry re-en′try (rē en′trē)
noun pl. reentries -·tries
1. a reentering; specif., a coming back, as of a space vehicle, into the earth's atmosphere, the act of entering again
2. a second or repeated entry; the act of going back to a prior location

Reach for the moon,

'cause even if you miss

you land among the stars

So today i felt like i was coming in from outer-space. I have been orbiting around my life and it is time to make some changes--a re-entry of sort into my life and the direction i want it to go. Who knows i might crash and burn but then again experience counts for something..Right?

For a number of years I have been toying with the idea of returning to school and getting a nursing degree. When i finally had this life changing epiphany it was after my last baby was born. It had only taken me thirty two years to figure out what i wanted to be when i grew up. Then life sorta got in the way. My goal was to get my butt back into school when little man turned one (he is now nine). That was about the time when we were finding out there were some issues with him. He became my full time job between working part time, remodeling a kitchen, being a mom and dealing with four other children. The timing just wasn't right. Goals were postponed and life got busy. Having five kids/teenagers has the tendency to do that. I figured i would go back when he got into school. Time just kept marching on and it didn't happen. I found myself on auto pilot dealing with the daily needs. It is hard to get back into school when you have been out for so long.

Today found me picking up my oldest from college. She has recently decided that she wants to go into nursing. That has become a happy coincidence for me. In trying to move her in the right direction it has gotten me thinking. There was a meeting that she/I needed to attend to get more information about the nursing program. We have been throwing around the idea of when to go--and today was the day. It was fun walking the campus with the daughter. It certainly had changed a TON since i walked it 20+ years ago. Thank goodness i had my own personal tour guide to show me the way. We went to the meeting which was great. I found out that my math that I took 20+ years ago was still applicable and I could count it--YIPEE.

After the meeting we went off to the advisory office to get my student #. We spoke with the advisor and then we were off to the the testing center. After all these years I had actually never taken the entrance tests to see what i was capable of. We asked how long the test would take and were told it would take a few hours. I decided to go ahead and give it a whirl. Why not? I had the afternoon off. My daughter bid me farewell and I told her i would call her when i was done.

First lets just say when I started on this college road many years ago we didn't have things like, "the Internet". We had barely gotten our first computer and lets be honest, it really was more like a glorified (albeit expensive) word processor. When you did a research paper you actually had to do research...in a library. Things have changed just a bit since then. The test i was taking today was on the computer--and i will be honest in saying that i missed coloring in the little circles--there is something satisfying and cathartic about staying in the lines and seeing the pattern the little circles would make. --Let me divert here for a moment. When I would have to take those standardized tests in Junior High there would come a point where i would get bored, and knowing that those tests didn't really count, i would fill in the dots randomly to make pictures. Somehow i was a pretty good {{guesser}} because i seemed to do well enough even with my questionable strategies. Seeing how this was on the computer today and there were no dots or pictures to distract me it had my full attention. I couldn't even go back and re-check my answers. Once i hit "accept" that was it. It was out into cyber space. I found that i actually had to really concentrate and read some of the things out loud to completely comprehend what i was reading. I have gotten into the habit of skim reading things over the years and I didn't think that would work here. I actually took the time and cared about this test. I felt pretty good about it when all was said and done.

Then came the math portion. I thought how hard can it be--I was WRONG. It is not like getting back on a bike--I had forgotten more than i remembered. I ask you...What is the point of mixing the alphabet and numbers? Who's idea was that? I know it used to make sense but as i started taking the test I knew it was not going to be pretty. Maybe i should have reviewed a bit before i sat down to attempt this. What happened to adding and subtracting? Maybe even throw in some multiplication and division--but NO. Instead they tortured me with....I pretty much could not remember much of anything. Can we say "Houston,we have a problem." I know I did well on the word problems--because that is the kind of math i do these days. Or if they had asked me how much tax is on a $20. item--or perhaps how much it would cost if it was 65% off. I like those kind of math problems. I am good at those kinds of math problems--but alas they wanted me to figure out what these little letters meant and my brain just was not having it. I could not pull it from the archives to remember for anything--so i pretty much resorted to hitting the button that was the equivalent of "I am clueless". It was either that or have my brain explode.

When i finished the test i came out. The girl at the desk asked me how I did. "Horrible on the math" I responded, all the while thinking "crash and burn". She proceeded to tell me that was what most people said and usually they did fine. I told her that was not my case--I knew i had blown it--burned up on re-entry. Now please remember that i have already taken college algebra and passed it when i tell you my grade...

I got a 17.
Yes, you read that correct.
A 17.
Now that is not a 17 out of 20.
That would mean it was a good grade-

instead it is a 17 out of 100!
Can you say PAH-Thet-ICK

(that is pathetic only exaggerated a bit more)

All i could do is laugh. She told me that i would need to take Basic Arithmetic--MAT081. Yeah?? I don't think so. I can retake the test and if i need to take more math i will do some refresher problems before i attempt that again. English and Reading turned out MUCH better. I had test scores i was proud of--one i could hold my head up high on. I actually tested out of reading and my sentence skills I scored 114/120. Not so bad. She told me that i could actually take HONORS English.
Me in HONORS?
What is the point of that?
I soon learned that if you take honors you can actually get money for that class--
HMMMM.... something to think about.
Might actually make the work worth it.

I can't begin to tell you how excited i am about this big step i took today. I know i have a long road in front of me but the fact I actually have started the process thrills me. I might crash and burn on my re-entry, but i hope that my lifes experience will play in my favor. When i thought about how long this path will take me, it sorta made me discouraged at how old i will be when i finally finish. But guess what?--I will be that age whether i try to do this or not...so what do i have to lose?

“It is never easy to keep reaching for dreams.

Strength and courage can sometimes be lonely friends.

But those who do reach the stars,

walk in stardust.”

What makes my heart weak

Please bear with me while i get a bit mushy--

if you know me at all you know this is not normal for me

but seeing how it is February and all...

I don't tell or show my hubby near enough that i LOVE him...
but I do.
Sometimes we get so busy with life that we just go on auto pilot and take each other for granted.

We know each other so well and what makes each other tick.

We are alike in so many ways and yet so different
He makes me crazy sometimes--

He is HOT!

I mean that in the most literal sense of the word--he is like sleeping next to my own personal heating pad--which most days is just too HOT for me especially when we live in AZ.
He likes to sing random songs to me (sometimes)
He loves sports--all sports.
He loves to swing--golf clubs that is.
He likes to ponder before he speaks
He LOVES sushi and eating with chopsticks
He is quite the accomplished cook and has managed to keep me FAT and Happy--
but when he surprised me today and cleaned our room,
and put fresh sheets on the bed, and hung up my pile of skirts.
Never has my heart pittered pattered more for this man

After 23 years of marriage he can still manage to surprise me.
Can i just say this is far better than a box of chocolates
or a vase of flowers!